A School of Public Health Like No Other

Reuel A. Stallones Building in the Texas Medical Center in Houston

At six campuses across Texas, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health works to improve the state of public health in Texas every day. Each of our campuses is strategically placed to meet the public health education and research needs of the diverse populations across Texas. UTHealth School of Public Health is the only school of public health in the nation with regional campuses.

The main campus, located in the heart of Houston’s Texas Medical Center, offers students unmatched opportunities for research and employment. The School of Public Health’s five regional campuses are in Austin, Brownville, Dallas, El Paso and San Antonio. Each campus has its own faculty and research specialties. Students can attend class at any of the six campuses via Interactive Television (ITV).

UTHealth School of Public Health is one of six schools of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), the most comprehensive academic health system in The University of Texas System and the U.S. Gulf Coast region. In addition to the School of Public Health, UTHealth is home to schools of biomedical informatics, biomedical sciences, dentistry, medicine and nursing. It also includes a psychiatric hospital, multiple institutes and centers, a growing network of clinics and outreach programs in education and care throughout the region.

The School of Public Health is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and the university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Degree Programs

The Path to a Graduate Degree

UTHealth School of Public Health offers four degree programs leading to the skills necessary for public health careers. Professional degrees can be used for practicing public health outside of higher education the Master of Public Health (MPH) and the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH). Academic degrees are primarily used for teaching and research the Master of Science in Public Health (MS) and the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health (PhD).

Students learn to conduct research on important public health concerns at the UTHealth School of Public Health while working with teams of faculty uncovering answers to urgent public health issues.

Professional Degrees

Academic Degrees

Choosing a Minor or Breadth Area

MS, DrPH and PhD students must choose a minor in a public health discipline outside of their major. The following minor requirements are listed for each public health discipline. Doctoral students are required to complete one minor area of study and one breadth area of study OR two minor areas of study. For further discussion about how your minor or breadth area can help you meet your career goals, please contact your faculty advisor.

MINOR AREAS OF STUDYMS, DrPH and PhD students must choose a minor in a public health discipline outside of their major. The following minor requirements are listed for each public health discipline. Doctoral students are required to complete one minor area of study and one breadth area of study OR two minor areas of study. For further discussion about how your minor or breadth area can help you meet your career goals, please contact your faculty advisor.

Minimum nine (9) semester credit hours for MS, DrPH and PhD students majoring in other public health disciplines. The prerequisite science background for these courses is required to take the minor in Environmental Sciences.

Nine (9) semester credit hours for MS, DrPH and PhD students majoring in other public health disciplines. The requirements for a minor in behavioral sciences include three courses from the department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences. Courses should cover primary theory and methods in health promotion and behavioral sciences and/or program evaluation and intervention development (especially for the DrPH student).

The following courses, though not required, are offered as suggestions for the minor:

Department of Management, Policy and Community HealthMANAGEMENT, POLICY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH MINOR Course of study – required:

Nine (9) semester credit hours for MS, DrPH, and PhD students majoring in other public health disciplines

Students are expected to take courses focusing in one of the following areas: Health Economics; Health Services Research; Health Policy; Healthcare Management; or Community Health Practice.

Specific courses can be changed to meet the individual needs of the student with the approval of the MPACH member of the student committee. If the committee does not have a MPACH member, the student is expected to seek guidance from a MPACH faculty member in their desired minor area in choosing minor courses as described below.

In general, the courses in each topic area should be chosen from the following sets of courses:

PHD 3998 Community Engagement and Community-Based Participatory Research

PHD 3998 Practice-Based Methods and Design

BREADTH AREAS OF STUDYDoctoral students are required to complete one major area of study and two additional areas of study. The additional focus areas can be one minor area of study and one breadth area of study OR two minor areas of study. The following are some examples of Breadth topic areas, however a breadth area is not limited to the following. Specific courses can be changed to meet the individual needs of the student with the approval of the committee members.

Department of Biostatistics and Data ScienceBIOINFORMATICS BREADTHCourses required for the bioinformatics breadth includes three courses (9 credit hours) selected from:

Department of Management, Policy and Community HealthLEADERSHIP BREADTHDrPH students are highly recommended to select a breadth in Leadership.

Courses (Choose any of the courses listed or others as defined by your committee for a total of 9 credits)

PH 5200 Foundations of Leadership (3 credits)

PH 3815 Health Policy Analysis (3 credits)

PH 3825 Public Health Law (3 credits)

PH 3830 Ethics and Policy (3 credits)

PHD 3946 Strategy, Governance, and Leadership (3 credits)

PHD 3950 Advanced Leadership Studies in Public Health (3 credits)

PHD 5210 Selected Readings in Leadership Studies (2 credits)

PH 5220 Gender and Leadership (3 credits)

Department of Management, Policy and Community HealthQUANTITATIVE METHODS BREADTHDrPH students in Community Health Practice are recommended to select a breadth area in Leadership or Methods. Substitutions in either recommended breadth may be made with approval of the student’s committee.

Courses (Choose any of the courses listed or others as defined by your committee for a total of 9 credits)

PH 2710 Epidemiology III (3 credits)

PHD 2711 Epidemiology IV (3 credits)

PH 2998 Applied Epidemiology (3 credits)

PH 1820 Regression Techniques (3 credits)

PH 1119 Qualitative Analysis (3 credits)

PHD 3918 Geographic Information Systems Science (3 credits)

PH 3998 Demography for Public Health (3 credits)

Department of Management, Policy and Community HealthHEALTHCARE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT (HITM) BREADTHSelection of courses for the HITM breadth could depend on whether the student is pursuing a major or minor within the MPACH department. Students are expected to seek guidance from the HITM coordinator in selection of courses.

*These courses are offered by UTHealth School of Biomedical Informatics

InterdepartmentalBREADTH AREASInterdepartmental concentrations offered at the school can also be considered as a breadth. The concentrations are listed below. See https://sph.uth.edu/academics/concentrations/ for required courses and electives for each area of study.

Global Health

Health Disparities

Leadership Studies

Maternal and Child Health

Nutrition and Public Health

Physical Activity and Health

How Will Your Work Count?

A student is classified full-time if enrolled in at least nine semester credit hours during the Fall or Spring semesters, at least six semester credit hours during a 12-week Summer session, or at least three semester credit hours during each six-week Summer session. Full-time students generally enroll in 12-16 credit hours per semester. A minimum of three credit hours must be taken in each semester a student is enrolled. Students are expected to enroll in culminating experience, thesis, or dissertation hours during the time that resources are being used in this endeavor. All courses taken by students accumulate semester credit hours, but no more than a combined total of six credit hours earned for culminating/thesis/dissertation research plus the practicum experience may be counted toward the total credit hour minimum of the degree.

What Classes Will You Take?

A course generally consists of a combination of lectures, discussion periods, directed reading, and individual study and inquiry. Courses may be taken in a classroom, online or via Interactive Television when offered. Courses are letter-graded or pass/fail. All courses satisfying the MPH core requirements are letter-graded. Elective courses may be letter-graded or pass/fail at the discretion of the instructor. Credits earned at other institutions prior to enrollment at the UTHealth School of Public Health shall not be applied to SPH transcripts or counted toward graduation requirements. Through reciprocal agreements, however, students enrolled at the UTHealth School of Public Health may take courses for credit at affiliated institutions.

Becoming a Student

Enrollment is required in the semester in which the research proposal is submitted and continuously through the semester in which all requirements for graduation are completed. Enrollment is also required in the semester in which the qualifying examination (doctoral programs) is taken and in the semester in which the student is involved in a practicum/internship (MPH and DrPH programs). Students must maintain enrollment in the School so that any absence from the program does not exceed one calendar year (three consecutive semesters) unless a formal leave of absence is obtained. General and specific requirements for degrees may be altered in successive catalogs. A student is bound by the requirements of the catalog in force at the time of his/her admission or readmission; however, a student must complete all degree requirements within seven years or be subject to the degree requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of graduation.

A student is classified “full-time” if enrolled in at least nine semester credit hours during the Fall or Spring semesters, at least six semester credit hours during a 12-week Summer session, or at least three semester credit hours during each six-week Summer session. Full-time students generally enroll in 12-16 credit hours per semester. A minimum of three credit hours must be taken in each semester a student is enrolled. Students are expected to enroll in culminating experience, thesis, or dissertation hours during the time that resources are being used in this endeavor. All courses taken by students accumulate semester credit hours, but no more than a combined total of six credit hours earned for culminating experience plus the practicum may be counted toward the total credit hour minimum of the masters degree. Nine combined dissertation and practicum hours may be counted for the doctoral degree.

The Clock is Ticking…

Students are expected to complete master’s degree programs (MPH and MS) within five years and doctoral degree programs (DrPH and PhD) within seven years. In case of extenuating circumstances, a student may request a one-year extension provided there is adequate justification. The possibility of a second year of extension exists for extraordinary circumstances. Students who do not graduate within the approved time limit must be readmitted to the school in order to complete the degree program in effect at the time of readmission.